Gloucestershire Gladiators American Football club captain, Josh Ricketts, sits down with Park Life Sport to discuss the Glads’ season so far, his reoccurring injuries and participation in the Great British university American Football All-stars trials 2022.
University American football is something of an unknown entity for many in the UK, but it is also one of the fastest growing in recent times, and the ceiling is ever rising.
Ricketts, who has played the sport on and off since he was 13, is a product of the increasing popularity of America’s favourite sport with UK teenagers.
But what does he think is the cause of the sport’s growth?
“The investment from America,” suggests Ricketts. “But also the set up of the European league of football which has given the European players greater opportunities to showcase our talents.”
And it is this same opportunity to showcase footballing talent that has led to the GB All-stars trials, and Ricketts’ involvement in this year’s edition, alongside fellow Gloucestershire Gladiator teammates Liam Bentley and Josh Snell.
A total of 110 players from the South-Western divisions, including the Premiership, were invited to the trials which will determine a successful half of the group to be selected for a game against a retrospective northern side that will follow a similar format.
Representatives from the NFL International player pathway were present at the trial to gauge the levels of ability, ultimately to judge if anyone could make it further in the sport, a significantly positive message to all UK ballers.
“It was a really good standard.” explains the Glads running-back, “with a lot of players that have played at a good level in Europe.
“Coaches have to nominate people they think can hack it, and then we put together a highlight reel along with things like our measurables which are important and results for the 40 yard dash and what we can lift gym wise etc.”
He continues, “It was fairly different to Glads training which is usually just one field session and one classroom session.
“We did a lot out on the field, including one on one stuff as well as in the classroom and everything was much more time orientated.
“I was put with the line-backers and it was quite fun, at one point we only allowed one first down which was a thirty yard run.
“It was raining a lot so the receivers really struggled to catch the ball!”
To many, it would seem plain sailing for naturally talented university sportsmen like Ricketts, but the student-athlete lifestyle can be one of great difficulty.
As well as coping with the monotonous struggle of every day life, keeping up with his studies and making time for training, improvement and learning the playbook, the running-back has had to deal with a high ankle injury suffered in the first game of the season that has hampered his season.
In the face of adversity, however, the club captain lived up to his role even on the sidelines.
Whether it was helping rookie players learn new positions in light of an injury hit squad, rehabbing profusely in order to return and help the team, or continuing to turn up to every single session, the commitment to his teammates cannot be questioned.
Despite describing his pain as, “unbearable,” his first thought was in getting back and helping out, and when that seemed in doubt, it crushed him.
“I felt like crying,” he admits with sincerity, “not even from the pain but the fear of being out for the whole season.
“Fortunately I haven’t been, despite re-injuring it somewhat against Plymouth Blitz.
“It was quite funny actually at the all star trials because I rocked up to the physios and they were shocked that I was playing based on how recently I injured it.
“They advised me not to but I do sports therapy myself so i know my body.”
Despite the strong Gladiator representation at the GB trials, the season hasn’t quite panned out how Ricketts expected for the team as a whole.
The university side are bottom of the South Western Tier 2 having lost all of their games so far, with just one remaining at top of the table Bournemouth on Sunday 23rd January.
While he’s disappointed at just how poor the season has been, he believes its easily explained in the inexperience of a side hampered by injuries.
“We’ve got a lot of first year players that didn’t even know the rules before they joined the uni.
“When experienced players like myself get injured you’re basically asking a rookie to go and play multiple positions that they don’t know and don’t particularly want to play.
“Almost all the teams in the division have had the same systems and coaching set ups for years as well, while we’ve got coaches coaching for the first time and have changed up the entire playbook.
“I genuinely think we can go toe-to-toe with Bournemouth in the last game, especially if they play back ups.
“I saw a few of their players at the trials and I think we can do It!”
“We’re a team building for the future and I’m telling you now the future of this team is bright.
